Evan is a name of Welsh origin, derived from the old Welsh word "efan" which means "the Lord is gracious". It is believed to have been popularized by the Norman French who brought it to England during their conquest in the 11th century. The name was originally used for both boys and girls but over time has become more commonly associated with males.
The name Evan gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the late 20th century, particularly in the United States and Canada. It ranked as one of the top 500 names for boys in several years during this period. Despite its Welsh roots, Evan is not considered a traditional Welsh name today.
In literature and popular culture, Evan has been used as a character's name on numerous occasions. Some notable examples include Evan Harris in the novel "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro, and Evan Treborn in the film "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". Additionally, several musicians have chosen Evan as their stage name or nickname, such as American musician Evan Dando from the band The Lemonheads, and Canadian singer-songwriter Evanescence.
Overall, Evan is a name with an interesting history and origin that has been adopted by various cultures throughout time. Its meaning "the Lord is gracious" may hold special significance for those who choose this name for their child or themselves.
The name Evan has seen a significant increase in popularity over the past century, with a notable spike beginning around the late 1970s. From 1880 to 1976, the number of annual births named Evan fluctuated between 7 and 31. However, starting from 1977, there was a dramatic rise, reaching over 1000 births in 1982 and peaking at nearly 10,000 births in 2006. Since then, the popularity of the name has gradually decreased, with approximately 2500-3000 births per year in recent years. In total, over the course of these statistics (from 1880 to 2023), there have been 282,704 babies named Evan.